16/10/2021 – REPORT – Great Bentley FC versus St Osyth FC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION TWO
GREAT BENTLEY FC: 3. ST OSYTH FC: 0.
Date: Saturday 16th October 2021. Venue: The Green, Great Bentley
Another dip into Division Two this week, two teams, local rivals by just a few miles, both sat mid-table after indifferent starts, Great Bentley FC were, last season, in the Premier Division, but a late exodus of players to other local Clubs saw that bubble burst and they asked for and were granted a two-division demotion, so it brings me back to a pet hate of mine, where has Club / Team loyalty gone too! St Osyth FC have steadied the ship after a thumping defeat to Brightlingsea Town FC in their second match and sat with four victories and four defeats, Manager Jason Fenner quipped that he had not been able to pick the same team from one week to the next, lets hope that changes soon.
The referee for this match was Lewis Farthing, a much-respected referee who will let the game flow and stamp on anything untoward, he was assisted by Club Assistants, the sprightly Peter Everitt for the home team and visitors, substitute, Lee Hawkins who handed over to his Manager in the second half, this game was well contested, no reckless challenges, no cautions either so job done!
St Osyth FC kicked off, the sun was out, there was no wind, as Great Bentley Green, being so open, can be a challenging venue when the weather is angry, the visitors kept possession to work their way down to the home goal. The first free-kick, taken by home keeper, Allwood was flicked on through midfield only for Hurd to be caught off-side but it was clear that the direct route and Hurd’s pace would be a threat. Great Bentley FC won their first corner on five minutes, Barrett took the kick, left-footed into the six-yard box where Pringle got under the ball which cleared the cross-bar. McGowan-Harvey was clipped from behind by Archibald, just as he was about to send the ball forward to McLean, the defender rightly getting a telling-off. Wood, a recent transfer signing from Lawford Lads FC was then adjudged to have fouled McGowan-Harvey however, the free-kick was wasted despite Edwards and O’Riordan getting forward. Pringle brought the ball out of defence sending it forward to Barrett, who sent a left-footed shot just wide of the target, McLean, still nimble on the ball, jinxed one way then the other before being fouled on the half-way line. Barrett was prompting his team at all times, a pass into Hurd led to a corner, conceded by Edwards, taken by Barrett, cleared for another corner by O’Riordan however, persistence paid off as from the third corner the ball was played short, Barrett picked up the return pass and played a low cross into the penalty area where ADAM MORTON guided the ball home from close range.
Great Bentley FC sensed another goal was there for the taking, a corner from Firkins was headed just wide by defender, Wood, Cowler fouled Pringle, wide on the right side but St Osyth FC bounced back with Edwards sending Bowers away down the right side, his cross was good but home keeper, Allwood held the ball near his goal-line, just no visitors, players there to challenge! Clifton had shown his shooting intent earlier in this half but when he sent a fine shot goal-wards, keeper, Wicken made the first of many fine saves, tipping the ball over the cross-bar for a corner, taken by Firkins and slashed over his own cross-bar by defender Bowers. McGowan-Harvey received the ball from a throw-in, turned, ran forward, and sent in a goal-wards shot that keeper, Allwood had little difficulty in saving, then McLean found space, passed to McGowan-Harvey who lobbed the ball over Pringle towards Cowler who fouled the keeper. Since that opening goal St Osyth FC had retained possession much better through mid-field but it was further up the field that they failed make any impact, often over-hitting or over-running the ball, that said, the home defence was standing firm, led by Captain, Pringle.
A free-kick, taken by Bowers from the half-way line fell to Cowler whose shot bounced once before reaching keeper, Allwood, standing on his goal-line, at the other end Clifton, worked some space and ran on the shoot goal-wards, keeper, Wicken spilled the first shot and was quickest to react for the loose ball only to get a trailing boot to his back for his efforts. On thirty-five minutes an error by Edwards, who tried to advance out of defence with the ball and was robbed of it by Barrett, who ran forward passing to his left where JOE HURD scored with a left-footed shot to queue some celebrations as it was his one hundredth goal for his Club. Clifton fouled McGowan-Harvey, but the free-kick failed to have any impact and Great Bentley FC moved to the other end where a left-footed free-kick, taken by Wood fell to Morton who managed to miss the target from close range. Once again, Clifton found space outside the penalty area, looking up to strike a fine shot goal-wards, from where I was standing on the road-side it looked a goal until keeper, Wicken took off to make another outstanding save. McLean gave chase to a forward ball, laying it back to Taylor whose long cross found Blackman but in an off-side position, and as we approached half-time the home team were still full of running with the visitors pegged back for long periods. Another shot from outside the penalty area by Clifton flew wide, St Osyth FC made a late charge forward and it was a combination of defenders Pringle and Grace that thwarted Cowler who latched onto a free-kick taken by Taylor after McLean had been fouled by Barrett.
HALF-TIME: 2 – 0.
The home team restarted this match, two goals looked a decent return for a positive first half, but St Osyth FC could still spring a surprise and their heads had not dropped, in fact, McLean found Godfrey whose cross was poor. With the games topped on fifty-one minutes, St Osyth FC replaced Blackman with Hawkins, keeper, Wicken made a save, advancing to take the ball off the feet of Hurd, bursting through from half-way. At the other end Cowler smashed a fine shot against the cross-bar but could only foul Pringle as he followed up for the rebound, another long ball forward fell into the path of Hurd who once again was stopped by another save, one-on-one by keeper, Wicken, who again was hurt in the collision, with play resuming from a drop ball. Barrett and Hurd threatened once again but Edwards got stuck in with a strong challenge to divert the ball back to his keeper. Just before the hour mark there was a game of “ping-pong” or so it seemed, as the home side launched the ball forward, the visitors repelled at least four attempts at goal from Barrett, Clifton, Pringle, and Hurd, with some desperate defending with keeper, Wicken eventually saving with his trailing left leg!
When McGowan-Harvey, Cowler and McLean worked the ball forward, in stepped Pringle to clear, no-nonsense defending there by the home Captain and this led to a four pass move through midfield to wide right where a cross from Clifton was over-hit. The home defenders again threw themselves in the way when firstly McGowan-Harvey then Cowler tried to force a goal attempt, seemingly for St Osyth FC, it was a bit of hit and hope! Bowers fouled Barrett and with play stopped Great Bentley FC replaced Archibald with Palmer, and keeper, Wicken punched clear an in-swinging corner and he was in action very soon afterwards advancing to save at the feet of Hurd, sent racing through by Pringle. Wicken, then almost gifted the home team a third goal when his throw-out failed to reach Bowers who instinctively fouled Barrett who would have been clean through. St Osyth FC managed to get forward on seventy-five minutes, Bowers to Godfrey whose cross almost found Cowler at the far post, substitute, Hawkins was there but his effort bounced once before going over the goal.
On seventy-seven minutes, game over as Great Bentley FC scored their third goal, Wood sent a fine pass forward down the left channel, JOE HURD ran onto the ball and beat the advancing keeper for his second goal of his match. Palmer set up Clifton who shot over the cross-bar, and the home team replaced Morton with Stitch and Edwards took his frustration out on Hurd for a free-kick just outside the penalty area, Barrett took the free-kick finding Clifton, but he shot was straight at the keeper. Firkins made a rash challenge on McLean, Taylor, took the free-kick but Cowler headed just wide. With just two minutes remaining Great Bentley FC replaced Barrett with Manager, Murray and the game ebbed from one end to the other with Hawkins at last testing keeper, Allwood right on full-time.
FULL TIME: 3 – 0.
Two better than average teams who tried to play football, not the best perhaps but good entertainment from two depleted teams who had players missing for a variety of reasons, Great Bentley FC played to their strengths to defend well then get the ball quickly upfront, St Osyth FC were missing a key defender, a midfielder and a forward who would normally hold the ball up until support arrived, anyway that’s food for thought for next week’s match.
For my weekly “Star Player”, home Captain, Pringle dominated at the back supported by his fellow defenders, in midfield they also held the balance of play with Barrett and Clifton instrumental, with their goals coming from Morton and Hurd (2) who has stayed loyal to the Club and now has one hundred goals for them. For the visitors, it may have been a day to mount a rear-guard defence but they were coming up short when getting forward, that final ball did not materialise, however, everyone I spoke to after the match felt that their keeper, Jacob Wicken was undoubtedly, man-of-the-match, making numerous fine saves to keep his team in contention.
Teams:
GREAT BENTLEY FC:
Colours: White Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Jake Allwood., Ryan Grace., Jack Wood., Will Archibald., Jamie Pringle (C)., Charlie Dolling., Kurt Firkins., Aaron Clifton., Joe Hurd., Lee Barrett., Adam Morton.
Manager: Jack Murray.
Assistant Manager: Greg Taylor
Used Substitutes: Jack Stitch., Jack Murray., Steve Palmer
ST OSYTH FC:
Colours: Yellow Shirts, Yellow Shorts and Yellow Socks.
Team:
Jacob Wicken., Frankie Bowers., William Taylor., Curtis Edwards., Ryan O’Riordan., Jay Godfrey., Mikey Dowdell., Jordan Blackman., Oscar Cowler., Matthew McGowan- Harvey., Russell McLean (C).
Manager: Jason Fenner.
Coach: Gary Cullip.
Used Substitutes: Lee Hawkins
Unused Substitutes: Jason Fenner
Referee: Lewis Farthing.
Star Player: Jacob WICKEN (ST OSYTH FC)
REMINDERS:
MATCH NOTIFICATIONS
Fixture Secretaries of Clubs are required to notify all match details, date, venue, kick-off time, colours etc, to their opposition and any appointed official/s, at least FIVE days before the match.
KICK-OFF TIMES
August, September & October (to end of BST): 15:00pm
November, December & January: 14:00pm
February: 14:30pm
March, to end of season: 15:00pm
ESBFL CUP TIES: 30 minutes earlier, if necessary.
ECFA CUP TIES: Kick-Off as advertised
CUP TIES
There will be NO requirement for “Extra-Time” to be played in Cup Matches, if scores are level at the end of “normal time” the match will proceed directly to penalty kicks.
SUBSTITUTES
The ESBFL continues to allow FIVE SUBSTITUTES to be named before kick-off but only “THREE SUBSTITUTES” may be allowed to participate.
Note:
In Essex County Cups (Premier & Junior) the Rule allows FIVE SUBSTITUTES to be named and those FIVE SUBSTITUTUES may be used on a “Roll-On / Roll-Off” basis.
TEAM SHEETS
Team Sheets should be shown or sent to the Referee and the Opposition team either by text, email etc
The BLUE “League Copy” of the Team Sheet should be sent by First Class Post to reach Mick Willmore by the Thursday after a Saturday match, this is the ONLY item of correspondence that is required by post.
RESULTS REPORTING
Rule 21(B)
BOTH Clubs shall notify/SMS the result of each Competition Match to the Competition within 30 minutes of the finish of the match. This will include Football Association and County Football Association matches. The results of all League and Cup matches in the Competition should be reported by the FA Full-Time “SMS” (text) System. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
FA FULL-TIME
The Referees marks, team, players, substitutes, goal scorers, red / yellow cards, and sin-bin, etc MUST be entered to FA Full-Time by the end of the Tuesday following a Saturday match (ie 48 hours after any match). Failure to complete FAFT correctly and on time WILL incur a League Fine/s.
DISCIPLINE
Since the start of the season there have been 30+ players dismissed and over 400 cautions, there have also been several incidences of misconduct towards players, Match officials, members of the public and county officials. These are situations the ESBFL Management feel very strongly about, and the statistics make poor reading, the ECFA will deal with all these cases as deemed appropriate but bear in mind these actions can be very costly both for players and your, Clubs.
WHOLE GAME SYSTEM (“WGS”)
All Club Secretaries should check “WGS” on a regular basis, if you don’t, the ECFA levy a fine (25%) for late acknowledgements and payments of fines and the Club could be put into a “SINE-DIE” situation meaning they cannot play until those debts are cleared.
Club Secretaries are also responsible for adding the matches missed by players who have been suspended.
Whilst the ESBFL regularly reviews the whole Club contents on “WGS” it is not their responsibility to monitor failures by Member Clubs to follow basic procedure/s.
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